Baby walker



Jan. 26, 1954 Filed Aug. 17, 1950 M. D. WELSH BABY WALKER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MATILDA D. WELSH Ar/M/W J an. 26, 1954 M. D. WELSH BABY WALKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1950 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. MATILDA D. WELSH Patented Jan. 26, 1954 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY WALKER Matilda D. Welsh, Ladue, Mo.

Application August 17, 1950, Serial No. 180,053

This invention pertains to a baby walker of the type which may be folded when not in use so as to occupy reduced space for storage.

The structure comprises a base frame mounted on casters, and a seat frame supported above said base frame on collapsible legs. Each leg is formed in the shape of a toggle, the ends of which are pivoted respectively to the base frame and the seat frame so as to be foldable in order to lower the seat frame upon the base frame. A second toggle connects the hinge pivot of each leg to a point on the base frame spaced from the lower pivot of said leg. This second toggle provides a brace for the leg. Each of these toggles is arranged to be locked against pivotal movement in one direction but free to move in the opposite direction. Accordingly, when the toggles are in extended position, both are locked and a rigid structure is provided. However, the toggles may be broken and folded so as to lower the seat frame on the base frame to make a compact structure. 7

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a walker embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is arighthand side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, enlarged;

Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, enlarged; V

Fig. 5 is a side view of the walker in collapsed position; and g g V Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of one of the leg structures in collapsed position.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a base frame which may be a simple rectangle of strap iron, or the like. This may be mounted on casters 2 so as to be movable about the floor and may, if desired, be provided with a rubber protective covering Ia. Supported above the base frame I is a seat frame 3 which may also be of strap iron of appropriate outline. This frame may be provided with a pair of side members 4 forming convenient means for attachment of the legs. A seat 5 of any suitable design, which may be of fabric, or the like, is suspended from the frame 3.

At each end of members 4, which ends form the corners of the seat frame, a supporting leg is attached. In the structure illustrated such leg comprises an upper section 6 pivoted at 1 to a member 4. The member 6 may be part of a U-shaped member, the bottom of which forms a cross member 8 extending across to the other side of the seat frame having a similar member 7 Claims. (Cl. 155-22) 6 providing the upper section for another leg. A lower section 9 of the leg is pivoted at [0 to the base frame I and is connected by a pivot II to the section 6, said pivot il forms the hinge of a toggle formed between sections 6 and 9. As may be seen from Fig. 3, the section 9 is connected to the section 6 on the inside of the U of which that section forms a part. Accordingly, the member 8 of said U passes on the outside of the section 9, so that pivotal movement of that section in the direction toward the member 8 is prevented. The member 8 therefore locks the leg toggle against movement in that direction. Said toggle is, however, free to pivot in the opposite direction, that is, with the pivot ll moving outward with respect to the seat 5.

In order to brace the leg toggle, a second toggle, is provided consisting of an upper section l2 and a lower section l3 pivoted to each other at It. This second toggle is pivoted at one end on the pivot H and at its lower end on a pivot [5 on the base frame I at a point spaced outward from the pivot I0. In this second toggle the section I2 is bent outward and then offset as shown at l6 so as to extend across the outside or lower section l3. This locks the second toggle against inward movement of the pivot l4 while permitting outward movement thereof. These locking devices, provided by the member 8 and the offset portion l6, are arranged to lock each toggle in a position slightly past dead-center, so that said toggles will be stable in that position. Thus a rigid structure is provided when the toggles 6 and 9 are in extended position. Furthermore, the leg structure on the right and left of Fig. 2 are faced in opposite directions, so that once in extended position they are locked so as to be rigid against any side forces applied thereto by the seat frame 3.

When it is desired to fold the structure, it is only necessary to break the toggles by moving the pivot l4 outward, which also moves the pivot II outward, whereupon both toggles may be folded to lower the seat frame upon the base frame, as shown in Fig. 5. The pivot Il may have an extension H which may rest on the section l3 when in folded position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to prevent the toggle I2-l3 from looking in this position, thereby making it difilcult to unfold the device. 7

It will be seen, therefore, that this invention provides a simple structure which may be made of very light materials, and being constructed almost entirely of strap iron, or similar stock, will be cheap to manufacture. The structure is such that it is easily extended by simply lifting the seat frame, and then forms a rigid structure in which a child may be permitted to rest without fear of an accident. When folded as described, it collapses to a relatively small space so it may be conveniently stored when not in use.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole, and improvements may be added while retaining some or all of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a baby walker of the character described, comprising, a seat frame, a base frame mounted on casters, a leg supporting said seat frame on said base frame, said leg being formed of a pair of sections joined by a pivot to form a toggle, one I end of which is pivoted to said seat frame and the other end to said base frame, and a second toggle providing a brace connecting said pivot to said base frame to sustain said leg in extended position.

2. In a baby walker of the character described, comprising, a seat frame, a base frame mounted on casters, a leg supporting said seat frame on said base frame, said leg being formed of a pair of sections joined by a pivot to form a toggle, one end of which is pivoted to said seat frame and the other end to said base frame, and a second toggle providing a brace connecting said pivot to said base frame to sustain said leg in extended position, said toggles being locked against pivotal movement in one direction but free to move in the opposite direction- 3. In a baby walker of the character described, comprising, a seat frame, a base frame mounted on casters, a leg supporting said seat frame on said base frame, said leg being formed of a pair of sections joined by a pivot to form a toggle, one end of which is pivoted to one side of said seat frame and the other end to said base frame, and a member connected to one of said sections and extending crosswise of said base frame, said member providing a stop to lock said toggle against pivotal movement in one direction.

4. In a baby walker of the character described, comprising, a seat frame, a base frame mounted on casters, a leg supporting said seat frame on said base frame, said leg being formed of a pair of sections joined by a pivot to form a toggle, one end of which is pivoted to one side of said seat frame'and the other end to said base frame, a

member connected to one of said sections and extending crosswise of said base frame, said member providing a stop to lock said toggle against pivotal movement in one direction, and a second toggle providing a brace connecting said pivot to said base frame to sustain said leg in extended position.

5. In a baby walker of the character described, comprising, a seat frame, a base frame mounted on casters, a U-shaped member providing a pair of leg sections pivoted to opposite sides of said seat frame and a cross member joining said sections, and a second pair of leg sections pivoted one to each of said first sections inside the U and forming with said first sections toggles which are locked by said cross member against pivotal movementv in one direction.

6. In a baby walker of the character described, comprising, a seat frame, a base frame mounted on casters, a U -shaped member providing a pair of leg sections pivoted to opposite sides of said seat frame and a cross member joining said sections, a second pair of leg sections pivoted one to each of said first sections inside the U and forming with said first sections toggles which are locked by said cross member against pivotal movement in one direction, and a second toggle providing a brace connecting one of said legs to said base frame to sustain said leg in extended position.

7. A baby walker of the character described, comprising, a seat frame, a base frame mounted on casters, and a foldable supporting structure for said seat frame including, a pair of U-shaped MATILDA D. WELSH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,463,819 Humphreville Aug. 7, 1923 2,198,813 Hall Apr. 30, 1940 2,478,516 Wilcox Aug. 9, 1949 

